This course surveys the state-of-the-art in international relations (IR) theory. Social theoretically, theoretically and substantively, we range broadly, exploring: the multiple meta-theoretical bases of IR (how new thinking on causality, uncertainty and ontology affects IR theory and method); research that links governance/order/ordering to legitimacy; experimental IR and IR survey experiments; non-Western IR theory; new work on the micro-foundations of international norms; practice theory and the practice turn as the new constructivism; and research on international institutions, hierarchy and closure. We also engage and assess recent special issues of journals that have come to represent two different ways of doing IR - the European Journal of International Relations and International Organization.
A theme throughout the seminar will be if all this new IR theory is ready for prime time. That is, does it help us better explain, understand and critique a 21st century marked by the return of large-scale conflict; global health crises; the rise of China; a populist backlash against globalization; climate change; and a new, deeply national and inward-looking identity politics?
Students will gain an in-depth understanding of contemporary international relations theory.
You will learn how to evaluate IR along various dimensions: meta-theory; theoretical breadth and depth; ethics; western/global/post-colonial; causal inference / validity; interpretive understanding; and empirical insight.
You will develop your own perspective on the pluralism that has come to define IR over the past 15 years. Is this development bad, or good - and why?
The course is open to PhD students in political science and related disciplines; there is no participation fee.
PhD candidates at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Oslo can apply for the course via Studentweb; other PhD candidates should use the Application Form.
Applicants have to be enrolled in a PhD programme
Teaching
The course, which takes place over 5 days at the University of Oslo (Monday through Friday), will be run as a seminar, where the emphasis is on debate and collective learning. Written discussion questions and response memos will serve as the starting point for our discussions on days 1, 2, 4 and 5, helping us set an agenda for each session.
On day 3, we take a break from formal deliberations, and the instructor will hold one-on-one meetings with course participants. The purpose of the meetings will be to strategize over how students can turn their response memos into the required course essay.
Obligatory Activities / Requirements
There are five requirements.
Reading: Read the assigned literature in advance.
Discussions: Active participation in them.
Discussion Questions: Prepare them for all sessions on days 1-2 and 4-5
Students should prepare 2-3 questions for each session, with your questions reflecting a critical engagement with and assessment of the readings. What are their strong and weak points? Their meta-theoretical, theoretical, methodological, ethical, or empirical contributions-omissions? Preparing these questions/comments is not intended as a writing exercise; indeed, they can be quite short.
Response Memo: Choose one session on days 1-2 and 4-5 and prepare a response memo to its readings.
These memos will be three-pages (double-spaced) and should critically interrogate the readings for that session. What works and why? Are there meta-theoretical, theoretical, ethical or methodological problems? Is there something new in the readings or are they just ‘re-inventing the wheel’?
Course Essay: Students should prepare an analytic essay based on their response memo. It will be 3,000 - 4,000 words and is due by 15.04.27